Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Spirit, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair contains a long-term record of substance use by embedding markers in the strands as they grow. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug usage for up to about three months. It's straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to mail.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil), near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, or more than 10-panel screenings, a total of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for accuracy. In the absence of scalp hair, the same amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it specifically means scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The key phases in processing a lab drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s database. It involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing necessary data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drug presence. Although cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed for legal acceptability. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at lower concentrations than in other methods (like urine or saliva), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Any positive screening results are verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity are cleansed before confirmation as required. The complete procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 standard endorsements.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, ensuring higher accuracy.
• Historical context: It offers insight into long-term drug habits, not just immediate usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Despite being occasionally termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Spirit, WI, the benefits of hair follicle testing far outweigh those of traditional urine tests. Hair testing boasts superior detection accuracy and reliability, which allows for identifying drug use over a much longer time span. With hair follicle testing, the likelihood of receiving a false negative is significantly reduced, making it a more trustworthy option for employers and courts.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Spirit, WI offers an extended detection window, covering drug usage for up to 90 days. This significant advantage provides employers with a comprehensive look into an individual's substance use history, ensuring informed decision-making. Such an extensive detection period surpasses that of urine tests, positioning hair testing as a crucial tool for substance abuse assessment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Spirit, WI greatly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration. As these tests are difficult to manipulate, they deliver credible and indisputable results, instilling confidence in the testing process. With hair follicle testing, the integrity of results is preserved, offering a reliable option for detecting drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of nationwide testing locations alongside local facilities in Spirit, WI simplifies the drug testing process. With numerous testing centers, access to quick and efficient services is readily available. Individuals seeking testing can expect a streamlined and hassle-free experience, ensuring timely and accurate testing results.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Spirit, WI, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving results, each step prioritizes privacy and user convenience. Individuals can engage in the testing process without concerns over confidentiality breaches, enjoying an effortless testing experience from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing coupled with a fast turnaround in Spirit, WI, hair follicle testing provides tremendous value. Competitive pricing structures ensure accessibility for businesses of all sizes, ensuring quick and cost-effective results. Companies can rely on efficient testing without compromising on quality or breaking the budget.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results in Spirit, WI. These tests are known for their capability to detect substance use with exceptional precision. The speed at which results are obtained makes them a preferred choice for those needing definitive answers without delays. Trust in hair follicle testing for unquestionable accuracy and dependable outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Spirit, WI, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, fostering peace of mind. These tests help mitigate legal risks while enhancing workplace safety by accurately identifying individuals who violate drug use policies. By employing hair testing, companies reinforce their commitment to a safe and compliant working environment.

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What's New In Hair Follicle Drug Testing according to the Hair Drug Testing Experts

With its multidisciplinary nature, hair testing brings together researchers, scientists, and experts from various domains to develop innovative techniques, explore new methodologies, and address emerging concerns, responding to the ever-evolving challenges of drug abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and environmental exposures to pollutants.

The joint meeting of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Italian Group of Forensic Toxicologists (GTFI) was organized in Verona, June 8–10, 2022, and hosted by the Legal Medicine team of the Verona University Hospital, directed by Franco Tagliaro together with Federica Bortolotti and Rossella Gottardo.

It served as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, facilitating groundbreaking advancements in hair testing and analysis. In this special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, we aim to showcase the remarkable manuscripts presented at this significant event, shedding light on the latest research and highlighting the future directions in this field.

Novel Analytical Techniques: The Verona meeting witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge analytical techniques, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy for drug testing. Remarkable advancements in sample preparation, detection, and identification of drug compounds have been presented. The manuscripts in this section presented novel approaches, such as multianalyte methods and on-line preparation which can enable rapid analysis and improve thorough forensic investigations.

Biomarkers and Pharmacokinetics: The identification and validation of reliable biomarkers and pharmacokinetic studies are fundamental aspects of drug testing and analysis. The impact of hair treatments on the oxidation/decomposition of drugs in hair was also explored, as the long-term fate of drugs incorporated in the keratin matrix. Furthermore, the SoHT meeting in Verona featured research on the identification and quantification of alcohol abuse biomarkers, their stability, and their correlation with exposure and other biomarkers.

Forensic Applications and Interpretation: One of the vital objectives of hair testing is its application in forensic investigations and legal proceedings. The SoHT meeting in Verona emphasized the significance of rigorous interpretation of analytical results and the need for standardized protocols. Manuscripts in this section present advancements in forensic toxicology, and have explored the challenges posed by emerging designer drugs and strategies to combat their proliferation. The pitfalls encountered when the exogenous/endogenous nature of a substance is questioned were presented and discussed. The special issue presents also manuscripts that delve into the ethical implications of drug testing in drug facilitated sexual assaults.

Clinical Applications of hair testing are witnessed by the insight on environmental tobacco smoke exposure, assessed by hair analysis in a population of students and the study of in utero-exposure to drugs of abuse through neonatal hair analysis. Exposure to drugs was also important in cases of child abuse/neglect, when the clinical purpose of hair testing merge with its forensic applications.

The legal framework surrounding hair testing and the achievement of guidelines to ensure fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality in drug testing practices have also been discussed,and the SoHT consensus on general hair testing and testing for drugs of abuse was presented at the meeting and published as a Letter to the Editor.

In conclusion, the special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, featuring manuscripts from the SoHT–GTFI meeting in Verona 2022, reflects the remarkable advancements achieved in this field. The manuscripts provide valuable insights into novel analytical techniques, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, forensic applications, and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advancements, we pave the way for a safer, healthier society, where drug testing and analysis serve as powerful tools in protecting public health and maintaining integrity in various sectors. The research presented in this special issue will undoubtedly shape the future of drug testing and analysis, fostering collaboration and inspiring further innovation in this crucial area of scientific inquiry.

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